Where in the World??

Where in the world do I live??

While I was sitting in the car during seminary, I was listening to the radio and the news came on and the DJ's were complaining about a new tax the state is going to start. 

If you have a pet, any kind, you will now pay a yearly tax.  Based on the weight of your pet.  If you don't pay the tax, your pet could be impounded.  The only way to get around this is to not take your pet to the vet.  The state will be checking vaccination records to verify who has paid the tax. 
This includes dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, fish, etc.

People were outraged.  Do you blame them?  I don't have pets and I can't believe it.  All of these poor animals in shelters are never going to be adopted and people will get rid of the ones they have because they can't afford them.
Unreal!
BTW, if you live in MA, you have 48 hours to register your animal and get your taxes paid. 

They were also talking about taxing soda, I guess 20 other states already do that one to help fight obesity.  Whatever!

Welcome to TAXachussetts!!



















I checked out the websit the radio station said to go to to pay these taxes and it says:


April FOOLS!!!!

1.  funny jokes
2.  a few days with no rain
3.  still no water in our basement!

I learned

I learned something this morning at 5:55 a.m.

I learned that not even 3 inches of rain in a 24 hour period can cover up the smell of a dead skunk in the road!

PEEUUUU!!!

1.  sun in the forcast
2.  no flooding at our house
3.  a clean kitchen

Depressing

I read a very depressing article this morning on Google news.
It stated that women need to exercise 60 minutes a day 7 days a week to maintain a helathy weight.  MAINTAIN.  not lose.

It also stated that women gain about 1.5 lbs/year between the ages of 25-55.

To read this depressing article click here.

I am already doing an hour or more and that is to lose some weight, not maintain.  Bummer!

1.  exercise(even if I don't necessarily believe I have to do an hour a day)
2.  no school for Brynn today
3.  my neti pot(because I sure need it today, got a cold!)

Spring

Finally, the day has come!!

HAPPY SPRING!!!

1.  sunshine

2.  another day of 70 degrees

3.  light at the end of a dark tunnel

Small Town

We live in a small town.
I love it.
Let me tell you one reason why....

A couple of weeks ago, I was in charge of the Relief Society Birthday Dinner.
I wanted to do a handout that went along with our theme.
The theme was "Purse~onal Relief Society".
We talked about the different "purses" we have in our lives....backpacks, diaperbags, temple bags, etc.
Our RS President found the cutest brads in the shape of a purse at Oriental Trading.
I ordered them.
Shipping took forever.
I was scared.
Following the tracking, I found out that instead of being delivered to my house, they were delivered to the post office for delivery and they should arrive at my house in a couple of days. 
Problem..... the dinner was that night.
So I went to the post office.
Very helpful men went to look for my package.
Side note, a bit weird that FedEx was supposed to deliver the package, but they have a contract with the post office and sometimes the post office will deliver the packages.
Anyway, the nice men at the post office couldn't find the package, I am sweating.  Have no idea what else I can do as a handout.
Then, the post master general in my tiny post office says, "hang on just a second and let me call your driver".  Fabulous, I thought.
then I hear, "Len, do you have a package to be delivered to _________ address from Oriental Trading Company?"  Yes, I do, he says!!!!
Happy Day!!! 
When I was going to get Brynn from school he was on my street, I pulled up to his truck, he knew who I was(that has NEVER happened before, that the mailman knows who I am) and he hands me my package and says "heard you've been waiting for this"!
I haven't been so relieved to receive a package!
To end the story, I got the brads, they were VERY cute and we had a great birthday dinner!
THE END!!

1.  nice post man
2.  small town
3.  70 degree weather today!

Coming to Terms

I have been trying for a while to come to terms with the fact that I am not a runner.
I have tried for years to be one. 
I just can't do it. 
I want to.
I want to love it.
I want to be able to run for a consistent mile without walking.
I want to run a marathon.
I want to have a runner's body.
I want to have runner's lungs.
I don't.
I don't have any of those things.
I have run 4-5 half marathons.
I have done a 10K.
I have done a 12 person relay race from Hartford CT to Boston(200 miles).
I can't get better at running.
I have decided that I am done.
I will not run anymore(unless I can get my asthma under control and lose 20 lbs).
I am disappointed(but I will get over it).

1.  trying new things
2.  coming to terms
3.  exercise

Disney Slide Show

Disney

We spent our February vacation from school in Disney World!

The Happiest Place on Earth!!

I took over 300 pictures, so I am going to do a slide show.

We went to the 4 parks in Disney, on Sunday we didn't go into the parks and went to the

Orlando Temple. Beautiful!! This time that we went the grounds were open. 4 years ago when we were there, we got there late enough that the grounds were closed. The flowers are already blooming and it was Fantastic!

It has been hard to come home, back to life and reality, rain and snow. But home is where we are!

1. Disney

2. vacation

3. family

Its Vacation Week

What are you going to do next???

We're going to Disney World!!!!

1. vacation
2. warm weather
3. vacation

Basketball is Over

Braden had his last basketball game on Feb. 11th.

The team didn't do too well over all, but Braden had a good time.

Braden got to start this game. The first time he got to start all season. He was thrilled!!

He had kind of a rough season, he got sick and sprained his ankle, so he missed a few games and practices, but he had fun, got some exercise and made a few fouls!

What more could you ask for!?

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!!!

Isn't she cute??!!

1. my mom 2. old photos 3. orange cars

What a Storm

This is what my house and yard looked like when I got up yesterday. I didn't set an alarm because school was cancelled for Wednesday(we got the call Tuesday night) due to the pending storm.

When I got up and saw this outside, I was a bit bugged. I was hoping for an early out because I heard that the storm wasn't supposed to hit until around 11a.m. The kids start early enough that all of them would have been home by noon.
This is the sky at 8 am. I decided to go to the store. There is a new one that opened by our church and when I was coming home from the church Tuesday night I tried to stop in, but they close at 9, so since we were getting SO much snow I decided I would be brave and go out!
Not a bit of snow did I see on my way there and back.

Everything from doctor appts., to guitar lessons, mutual, and school were cancelled. I will admit that it was nice to stay home, but now we have another day to make up in June.

This is what my driveway looked like this morning. Maybe an inch. We were supposed to get over a foot of snow. Not even worth getting the snow blower out!

A bit crazy, but I guess that is what happens in New England! I guess I won't complain about 2 snow days so far, considering all the snow that has hit D.C. and points south of us!!

1. back to school 2. clean house 3. sun is shining

Love, Sweet Love

I have a friend who every year challenges me, us, you to do 14 days of Love, leading up to Valentines Day.
This year, I thought I would be prepared. I AM NEVER PREPARED!! For much of anything.
So, I have been doing things, but not as thoughtful as I had hoped. I had grandiose thoughts, very unlikely to come to fruition.
Also, this year, she suggested and I decided that the things I/we do would not just be for our immediate family, we would do things for others.

Here are a few things I/we have done:

1. a treat on the bed
2. donation to Haiti Relief
3. donation to the local food bank
4. another treat in their Valentine mailbox
5. I did the chores for the day so the kids didn't have to
6. kids showed me love by cleaning the house
7. took cookies to a friend
8. treat in Valentine mailbox(big fan of this one)

I am not good with creative ideas, so some of them are not great, but the kids LOVE the treats in their mailbox! Only 6 more to go!

1. a pending snow storm(it forces us to stay home)
2. LOVE
3. clean bathrooms

Happy Birthday

To my dad and brother Jeff

Dad is 17(so he says) and Jeff(bottom right) would have been 33 today!
Don't you love the hairdos and the gum in Jeff's cheek and Jarrod's scratched up face!!

FABULOUS!!

Happy Birthday to two great guys!!

1. birthdays

2. photos

3. great memories

Laugh With ME...

because I am not cool or up to date in my knowledge of all the~I don't even know what to call them.

Signs, shortened versions of words. LOL(that one I know), but it wasn't until I was talking to my sister last week that I figured out what these mean...

:) :(

Duh, I know. But I am laughing at myself!!

Laugh with me, it will make you happy!!

I will do some service for you and let you laugh WITH me!!

1. things that make me laugh

2. 4 more days until February break

3. more hours of light outside